Free tool
Japan Tax-Free Shopping Checker
Enter what you'll spend in each store. We'll check the minimum and estimate the consumption tax you get back.
Visitors can get Japan's consumption tax back (10% on most goods, 8% on food and drink) when they spend at least ¥5,000 before tax in one store on one day, by our best information. Since November 2026 you pay the tax at the till and claim it back when you leave Japan. Bring your passport when you shop.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum for tax-free shopping in Japan?
Our best information is ¥5,000 or more before tax, spent in one store on one day. Purchases at different stores, or on different days, aren't added together.
How much tax do you get back in Japan?
The consumption tax: 10% on most goods and 8% on food and drinks other than alcohol. On a ¥22,000 purchase of general goods, that's ¥2,000. Some stores or refund counters deduct a handling fee.
How does Japan's tax refund work from November 2026?
As we understand the new rules, you pay the full price including tax, keep the goods sealed and unused where required, and get the tax refunded when you leave Japan after customs checks your purchases. Bring your passport when you shop.
Who can shop tax-free in Japan?
Short-term visitors from abroad, generally those staying under six months, who show their passport and take the goods out of Japan. Residents of Japan aren't eligible.
How accurate is this checker?
The tax rates are official. The minimum spend, the refund process and fees are our best reading of reported rules, which changed in November 2026; confirm with the store before you buy.
Sources and how current this is
Fares, rates and norms come from the official sources below unless marked as an estimate, and were checked in November 2026. Operators change prices, so check the source before you rely on a number.
- National Tax Agency — Consumption tax rates — 10% standard rate; 8% reduced rate for food and drink excluding alcohol
Best estimates (not official)
Where no official figure was available, we use our best estimate from published reports, operator sites, reviews and traveler reports. These are marked "est." in the tools above; treat them as a guide, not a quote.
- ¥5,000 minimum per store per day, before tax — the long-standing tax-free threshold as reported; the Japan Tourism Agency's pages weren't readable for us
- Refund at departure from November 2026 and any handling fee — reported details of Japan's switch to a refund-type tax-free system; fees vary by store and operator
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